way into the town of Mansoul. Then was fulfilled what they never looked for, and they were made to possess what they never dreamt of. The Prince also called for the noble Captain Credence, and commanded that he and some of his officers should march before the noblemen of Mansoul, with flying colours into the town. He gave also unto Captain Credence a charge, that about the time that the Recorder read the general pardon in the town of Mansoul, that at that very time he should with flying colours march in at Eye-gate, with his ten thousand at his feet; and that he

and pardon meet

should so go until he came by the high street of the town, up to the castlegates; and that himself should take possession thereof, against his Lord When faith came thither. He commanded, moreover, that he should bid together, Judg Captain Judgment and Captain Execution leave the stronghold to him, and withdraw from Mansoul, and return into the camp with speed unto the Prince.

ment and execution depart from the heart.

And now was the town of Mansoul also delivered from the terror of the first four captains and their men.

Well, I told you before how the prisoners were entertained by the noble

.

A strange alteration.

Prince Emanuel, and how they behaved themselves before him, and how he sent them away to their home with pipe and tabor going before them. And now you must think that those of the town, that had all this while waited to hear of their death, could not but be exercised with sadness of mind, and with thoughts that pricked like thorns. Nor could their thoughts be kept to any one point; the wind blew them all this while at great uncertainties, yea, their hearts were like a balance that had been disquieted by a shaking hand. But at last, as they with many a longing look looked over the wall of Mansoul, they thought they saw some return to the town; and thought again, Who should they be too? Who should they be? At last they discerned that they were the prisoners; but can you imagine how their hearts were surprised with wonder, especially when they perceived also in what equipage and with what honour they were sent home! They went down to the camp in black, but they came back to the town in white; they went down to the camp in ropes, they came back in chains of gold; they went down to the camp with feet in fetters, but came back with their steps enlarged under them; they went to the camp looking for death, but came back from thence with assurance of life; they went down to the camp with heavy hearts, but came back again with pipe and tabor playing before them. As soon as they came to Eyegate, the poor and tottering town of Mansoul adventured to give a shout; and they gave such a shout as made the captains in the Prince's army leap at the sound thereof. Alas for them, poor hearts! who could blame them ? since their dead friends were come to life again; for it was to them as life from the dead, to see the ancients of the town of Mansoul shine in such splendour. They looked for nothing but the axe and the block; but behold joy and gladness, comfort and consolation, and such melodious notes attending them, that were sufficient to make a sick man well.* So when they came up, they saluted each other: "Welcome, welcome! and blessed be he that spared you!" They added also, "We see it is well with you; but how must it go with the town of Mansoul? And will it go well with the town of Mansoul ?" said they. Then answered them Conscience. the Recorder and the Lord Mayor: "Oh! tidings! glad tidings! The understanding. good tidings of good, and of great joy to poor Mansoul!" Then they gave * And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. Isa. xxxiii. 24.

another shout that made the earth ring again. After this, they inquired yet more particularly how things went in the camp, and what message they had from Emanuel to the town. So they told them all passages that had happened to them in the camp, and everything that the Prince did to them. This made Mansoul wonder at the wisdom and grace of the Prince Emanuel; then they told them what they had received at his hands for the whole town of Mansoul, and the Recorder delivered it in these words: "Pardon, pardon for Mansoul; and this shall Mansoul know to-morrow." Then he commanded, and they went and summoned Mansoul to meet together in the market-place to-morrow, there to hear their general pardon read.

Oh! the joy of pardon of sin!

But who can think what a turn, what a change, what an alteration this hint of things made in the countenance of the town of Mansoul! No man of Mansoul could sleep that night for joy; in every house there was joy and music, singing and making merry: telling and hearing of Emanuel's happiness, was all that Mansoul had to do: and this was the burden of all their song, "Oh! more of this at the rising of the sun! more of this to-morrow!" "Who thought yesterday," one would say, "that this day would have been such a day to us? And who thought, that saw our prisoners go down in irons, that they should have returned in chains of gold? Yea, they that judged themselves as they went to be judged of their Judge, were by his mouth acquitted; not for that they were innocent, but of the Prince's mercy, and sent home with pipe and tabor. But is this the common custom of princes? Do they use to show such kind of favour to traitors? No; this is only peculiar to Shaddai, and unto Emanuel his Son."

Now morning drew on apace; wherefore the Lord Mayor, the Lord Will-be-will, and Mr. Recorder came down to the market-place at the time that the Prince had appointed, where the townsfolk were waiting for them: and when they came, they came in that attire and in that glory which the Prince had put them into the day before, and the street was lightened with their glory. So the Mayor, Recorder, and my Lord Will-be-will drew down to Mouth-gate, which was at the lower end of the market-place, because that of old time was the place where they used to read public matters. Thither, therefore, they came in their robes, and their tabor went before them. Now, the eagerness of the people to know the full matter was great.

Exod. xxxiv.
Matt. xi. 31.

Then the Recorder stood up upon his feet, and first beckoning with his hand for silence, he read out with a loud voice the pardon. But when he came to these words, "The Lord, the Lord God is merciful and gracious, pardoning iniquity, transgressions, and sins; and to them all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven," &c., they could not forbear leaping for joy. For this you must know, that there was conjoined therewith every man's name in Mansoul, also the seals of the pardon made a brave show.

When the Recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, the townsmen ran upon the walls of the town, leaped thereon for joy, Now they tread and bowing themselves seven times with their faces towards upon the flesh. Emanuel's pavilion, shouted aloud for joy, and said, "Let Emanuel live for ever."

thoughts.

Then order was given to the young men in Mansoul, that they Lively and warm should ring the bells for joy. So the bells rung, the people sung, and the music played in every house in Mansoul.

When the Prince had sent home the three prisoners of Mansoul with joy and pipe and tabor, he commanded his captains, with all the field officers and soldiers throughout his army, to be ready in the morning that the Recorder should read the pardon in Mansoul, to do his further pleasure. So the morning, as I have showed, being come, just as the Recorder had made an end of reading the pardon, Emanuel commanded that all the trumpets in the camp should sound, that the colours should be displayed, half of them upon Mount Gracious, and half of them upon Mount Justice. He commanded also, that all the captains should show themselves in their complete harness, and that the soldiers should shout for joy. Nor was Captain Credence, though in the castle, silent on such a day; but he from the top of the hold showed himself with the trumpet to Mansoul, and to the Prince's camp.

Faith will not be silent when Man

soul is saved. sound of

Thus have I shown you the manner and way that Emanuel took to recover the town of Mansoul from under the hand and power of the tyrant Diabolus.

The Prince displays his graces

Now, when the Prince had completed these outward ceremonies of his joy, he again commanded that his captains and soldiers should show unto Mansoul some feats of war. So they presently ad- before Mansoul. dressed themselves to this work. But, oh! with what agility, nimbleness,

dexterity, and bravery, did these military men discover their skill in feats of war to the now gazing town of Mansoul!

They marched, they countermarched, they opened to the right and left,

they divided and subdivided, they closed, they wheeled, made good their front and rear with their right and left wings, and twenty things more, with that aptness, and then were all as they were again, that they took,